Robosapien V2

The Robosapien is state of the art. It can talk, it can dance, it can bowl—but …

Hacking the Robosapien V2

The Robosapien can learn some new tricks, though. It comes with a programming system which allows you to send the robot through a sequence of 20 steps. After putting him into "puppet mode," you can twist, turn, and bend his body to your heart's content. Whenever you stop moving him, the Robosapien will remember that position. At the end of the sequence, he will play back the entire routine, which can also be stored for later use. Unfortunately, the Robosapien cannot be upgraded with additional voice clips or sound effects.

Like the first model, Robosapien V2 is easily hackable. A team at the University of Freiburg replaced the robot's head with a Pocket PC, while more adventurous modders have outfitted the Robosapien with a flame thrower. If that's your cup of tea, this could well be a robot worth picking up.

A word about batteries

Readers who are tempted to rush out and buy one should realize that the Robosapien eats devours batteries. The robot's main power source is the six D batteries (not included) that fit inside his feet. Four AAA batteries power his brain, while another three are required to run the controller. Internet reports note that this setup is good for about four hours of continuous usage; I got a little less than that.

The cost of these batteries adds up quickly, so potential buyers should definitely factor the cost of chargers and rechargeable batteries into the equation.

The magic wears off

In the short term, there's a lot to like about the Robosapien. He moves well, he's funny, and he comes with bowling pins. Unfortunately for many users, this will provide only a few days of entertainment before the robot gets to turn his flashing blue eyes toward the inside of a closet.

There's simply not enough to do with the robot once you run through his library of stock routines and phrases. This could be a good introduction to robotics for children, especially those who like to tinker and disassemble. For most others, though, this is a toy best left on the shelf.